Cotjhterbalance fob hinged covebs



I D. T. BUCKWALTER.

--COUNTERBALANCE FOR HINGEDV COVERS.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY 17, 1915.

l ,1 94,708 Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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. DANIEL THEODORE BUCKWALTER, OF ROYEBSFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

COUNTERBALANCE FOR HINGED COVERS.

weaves.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug, 15, mile;

Application filed May 17, 1915. Serial No. 28,694.

provements in Counterbalances for Hinged Covers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thc invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in counter-balances for hinged covers or lids.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and etticientdevice of this charactor to assist in raising and lowering heavy lids or covers on victrolas, refrigerators, trunks and the like and prevent all danger of dropping the cover.

Another object is to provide a counter-- balance of this character which when applied will cause the lid to remain in open position after being raised without danger of its dropping down, and it may be easily lowered by the pressure exerted by a single finger without any holding effect being exerted.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a central vertical section tl'irough the upper portion of a cabinet showing this improved raising and lowering device applied; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with parts broken out of a portion of said cabinet showing the lid in raised position, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing a slightly modified form of the invention; Fig. 4 is atransverse section taken on the line l+t of Fig. 3.

In the embodimentillustrated this'improved counter-balance device is shown applied to a victrola cabinet, and in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an angular lever 1 fulcrumed at its angle to the inner face of one side of the cabinet C as shown at 2 and having a link a pivoted to the free end of one arm thereof and secured at its other end to the lid '1 adjacent its hinged side. To

the free end of the other arm of thislever is secured a coiled spring 4-. This coiled spring 4: is connected at one end with the free end of said lever arm and end has a threaded rod 5 connected therewith, said rod extending through the rear wall of the casing or cabinet G and there provided with a nut 6 for securing and adjusting the spring in operative position. It is obvious that when it isdesired to vary the tension of this spring that the nut may be loosened and the rod 4) either projected or withdrawn according to whether it is desired to loosen or tighten the tension of the spring, and the nut again positioned to hold it in adjusted relation. As shown this I lover I is in the form of a right angle and is disposed with one arm extending rearwardly toward the rear wall of the cabinet, this being the arm with which the link 3 is connected and the other arm is disposed downwardly and connected at its free end with the spring 4. The link 3 extends through a slot 7 in the upper edge of the casing or cabinet 0, said slot extending vertically through a flange 8 which projects laterally at one side of said cabinet and forms a part of the upper cross bar of said cabinet; This slot forms a guide for the link 3 and holds it against lateral movement, sufficient play being permitted for it to swing-freely on the opening and closing of the top T with which the link is connected. A cushioning or jar absorbing spring 9 is preferably mounted between the upper edge of the horizontally disposed arm of the lever l and the lower face of the flange 8, and if desired a similar spring 10 may be mounted on the link 3 between the lower face of the flange 8 and a pin 11 which is extended transversely through said link to form a support for the lower end of the coiled spring 10. These springs cushion the opening movement of the lid or top T and prevent it from rising violently and they also exert their tension to assist in closing said llltl. 4

From the above description, it will be obvious that when the top T is to be raised the latch L which connects it with the casing is first disengaged to release the top and immediately the spring 4; will exert its tension to draw the depending arms of lever 1 rearat its other i wardly and thereby elevates the free end of the horizontally disposed arm, thus ex erting a forward force-on the link 3 which is connected with the top T and consequently raises said top, the springs 9 and 10 serving to cushion the opening movement of the top and prevent it from moving too rapidly.

When it is desired to close the top, suflicient pressure may be exerted thereon to overcome the tension of the spring 4: which is effected by means of the downward force exerted on the link 3 and imparted to the horizontal arm of the lever 1 which causes the free end of said arm to move downwardly and the free end of the depending arm to move forwardly, thus placing the. spring 4 under tension ready to open the lid when the latch L is again released, it being of course understood that when the top T closes this latch will automatically spring into locking engagementwith its cooperating element L on the cabinet and thus securely hold the top in closed position.

In Figs. 3 and at a slightly different form of adjustment for the spring 4 is Y which comprises two telescopically engaged tubes 12 and 13 which are provided with longitudinally and 1.5 through which a thumb screw 16 extends and which is designed to lock these members 12 and 13 in'adjusted position for Copies of this patent'may be obtained for a horizontal plane and ed rod shown extending registering slots 14 her at its upper end,- a bell crank lever fill-- crumed to one wall of said receptacle and having one arm extending approximately in the other depending, a link pivotally connected atone end to the free end of saidhorizontally disposed arm and to said hinged lid, a cushioned element arranged between said horizontal arm and said laterally extending member, a spring connected at one end to the free end coiled of the depending arm of said bell crank le- 'ver, a threaded rod extending through'one wall of said receptacle and connected at its inner end to the other end of said coiled spring, a nut on the outer end of said threadout'side said receptacle whereby the tension of said spring may be controlled, and means for fastening said lid in closed position. 4

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses. DANIEL THEODORE BUCKWA'LTER.

Witnesses:

HERMAN S. MILLS,

CHARLEs S. SANDS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

.Wanhinztomi). G. i 

